Ezzard Charles vs Willie Pastrano

rc,I can only answer this question by saying that in Charles's prime and a bit later on when Pastrono was boxing, this question would have one answer Ezzard Charles...Ezzard and Archie Moore were considered a class above Willie in those days...

 

WOW ! The skill level in this one would be immense. Two very gifted boxers. I pick Charles. Just that one notch above Willie.

 

Pastrano,apart from being brilliant to watch,must have had a great chin,considering who he fought.Cant remember him being stopped,apart from when past it against Torres,possibly.Agree that Charles punch would be decisive.A bit bigger,a bit better,more power.On points,as most say,but Pastrano a dancing master and pure poetry to watch.

 

Both guys fought in the LtHvy- small Hvy range and beat good opponents.

Pastrano might have a better chance at the small heavyweight status.

 

Pastrano is not a million miles away from a Joey Maxim. The same style based on lateral movement and a excellant jab, I think Maxim had a better grasp of technical skills, but Pastrano was slightly faster. Whatever the case, I still see a Charles win. Been a while since I read the fight reports for the Maxim wins but in one of the fights Maxim took a bit of a doing, and remember Maxim was a Heavyweight at this point.

The thing I think most here is Pastrano will be looking to pop that jab and I see Charles countering it with blistering combinations, making Pastrano forgo his jab and basically look exclusivly for long range 'safe' counters, making it a very frustrating fight to watch. I think Pastrano's patience and movement allows him to avoid a bad beating.

 

GPater
You probably know this,but Willie lost a decision to a Scotsman,Chic Calderwood,on his British tour.This is one of those fights that we never saw that wed love to have seen.Like your comparison with Maxim.My take would be Pastrano,as you said,a bit quicker,and better to watch,while Maxim the harder puncher,though Terry Downes might say otherwise

 

like this take, good post gpat :good the one slight advantage willie has is movement (at least from the charles footage i've seen) so he could make it tricky for charles at times

 

Prime for prime over 15 at light heavy, Ez mighta been outsped 'n out-pecked for 8-9 rounds, but comin' down the stretch, he mighta been the first ta stop Willie

 

Yeh I beleive Chic did beat him. Calderwood is an interesting character but I much prefer his rival 'Cowboy' John McCormack.

I wouldn't necessarilly say Maxim was the harder puncher, he just seemed to use a much more solid base, where Pastrano was zipping everywhere.

I think Pastrano just utilized more lateral movement, I wouldnt say he has the edge in this regard though, Charles movement is lovely to watch, very very efficient.

 

GPater

Gotta reply to this.Bringing back some memories.Yes,these 2 Scotsmen were rivals,with a bit of needle as well,apparently.Think Calderwood generally recognised as the better,but lost when they fought.I saw Cowboy on BBC fight Henry Hank,one of many American punchers at the time.Hank dropped him but he got up to win a deserved decision.He also beat George Benton,top boxer and trainer.

 

Yeh, Calderwood was probably better and was the natural Light-Heavy but McCormack was just a gritty Middleweight, I think there fight was won by a headbutt causing a cut.

 

I always thought it was Pastrano that gave us, IMO, the greatest boxing quote of all time. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Rather early in his career, he was fighting in NY and his opponent decked him in the early rounds. Willie rose, somewhat shaken, and within a few seconds, got clocked with another big punch. Rising on rubbery legs the ref wiped his gloves off and asked him..."do you know where you are?"
Supposedly Willie responded: "Hell yes! I'm in the middle of Madison Square Garden getting the **** kicked out of me!"